BISMUTH Bi2O3OH2. Hydrated oxide of Bismuth and the precipitated subnitrate of Bismuth are not differentiated.   THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES Bismuth is a remedy which should be thought of in cases where the focus of the problem lies in the stomach region. Severe stomach pains of whatever origin are a strong indicator for this remedy, particularly in cases of pure gastritis, and inflammation of the mucous lining of the stomach. The Bismuth patient's face is earthy, pale, with blue rings around eyes; there is great thirst for cold drinks in evening, nausea and pressure in stomach after eating with great drowsiness in forenoon. He may experience flushes of heat over head and chest and feel prostrated. Any derangement in the health of the individual has repercussions on the stomach. Thus Bismuth may be classed with the group of remedies whose common factor is a weakness in the stomach region, such as: Nat-carb., Ant-c., Nux v., Robinia, Kali-c. and Kreosotum. The characteristics of the Bismuth gastritis are the following: severe burning, pinching, cramping or lancinating pains with violent vomiting of enormous quantities of food. The epigastric pains usually read more [...]

  Berberis Vulgaris Barberry. (Britain) N.O. Berberidaceae. Tincture of the bark of the root.   The essential features Berberis vulgaris is indicated for persons who are pallid and sickly looking. The Berberis patient is pale-faced and appears tired. He has a dirty grayish look, with sunken cheeks, deeply seated eyes surrounded by bluish or blackish-gray circles and a sickly expression. The mouth is dry and sticky, with painful white blisters on the tip of the tongue. He tends to be chilly, with a rheumatic and gouty disposition. Three grand characteristics may be identified in this remedy: firstly the pains which radiate from a point, involving the joints, kidneys, liver and heart; secondly a bubbling sensation; and lastly the wandering nature of the pains. These characteristics are described in detail below. A prominent feature of this remedy are chills and fever. A common complaint will be coldness of body with hot face, commencing at 11 a.m.; burning heat in afternoon and becoming worse during the night. The venous system, where Berberis vulgaris acts forcibly, is often involved. You will find swollen varicose veins, itching in varicose veins, network read more [...]

  Benzoicum Acidum C6 H5 CO. OH. Obtained, by sublimation, from Gum benzoin; or artificially from several aromatic hydrocarbons. Tincture or trituration.   The essential features Benzoic acid is one of the main sycotic remedies and particularly concerns cases with an inherited sycosis from the parents. The main seat of weakness seems to be located in the kidneys, although the joints and the heart are also sensitive areas. Benzoic acid is equally valuable in cases where the patient develops kidney problems or rheumatic, arthritic or gouty manifestations soon after suppressed gonorrhea. The great keynote for prescribing this remedy is strong smelling, highly colored urine, which occasionally has an appearance resembling brandy. The odor of the urine is strongly ammoniacal, or like that of a horse, and very pungent. It is said in our literature that this strong odor of urine is a constant concomitant to almost any Benzoic acid disease condition, whereas the very dark color of the urine is not always present. In my experience this is not always the case, as there are conditions under which the strong odor is not present and you may trace it only in the past read more [...]

  Bellis Perennis   The Daisy. N.O. Compositae. Tincture of whole fresh plant.   The essential features Bellis is an important remedy for deep traumas, whether they be of the physical body or of the psyche. It is a remedy that should be considered whenever a mistreatment or hurt has been suffered in deep parts: when the physical body has been cut up in an operation or hurt in an accident, or when the emotional body has been mistreated in an emotional conflict. It is important for the student of homeopathy to understand that different constitutions have different predispositions. In this remedy there seems to be a predisposition for the tissues of the muscular system and the tendons to be in a precariously weak or tired state. The imposition of an injury on such an organism will almost inevitably result in a deep trauma, a chronic condition that will take a certain form. A different organism, with a different predisposition, will be much less likely to have such a reaction. For instance a Graphites or a Sulphur predisposition will not develop a similar condition after an injury. Another condition that can generate symptoms in a Bellis patient read more [...]

  Belladonna Atropa belladonna Deadly Nightshade Solanaceae Tincture of whole plant when beginning to flower     The essential features When one "clearly perceives what it is in medicines which heals," as Hahnemann enjoins, then one no longer thinks of a medicine in narrow terms. That is to say, when one understands the essence of a remedy, one can envision the possible applications of that remedy in their broadest context. Many of our medicines are spoken of as "acute remedies" or "constitutional remedies", but no such artificial boundaries exist in homeopathy. In the course of my personal experience I have observed that belladonna, a medicine generally considered as an acute remedy, is among the most frequently used polychrests for chronic conditions as well. Belladonna is a remedy characterized by great intensity and vividness. Both belladonna patients and belladonna disease processes are impressive because of the great energy they manifest. Thus, belladonna pathology can be among the most extravagant produced by any remedy in our entire materia medica. Great forcefulness seems to characterize the pathological processes of belladonna. read more [...]

  Baryta Sulphurica   The essential features Barium sulphuricum is the remedy to try in a Sulphur case that does not respond, where the patient looks timid, confused, and is closed in on himself, with an amelioration in the open air. This remedy should also be thought of in a case that looks like Baryta, where the patient is much more critical than you would expect a Baryta patient to be, though the criticism is internal - the patient is averse to discussing such matters, so does not voice her criticism. Barium sulphuricum derives very few of its symptoms from the Barytas; many of its characteristics come from its other component: Sulphur. We do of course see the aversion to mental work, the confusion of mind particularly in the morning or evening, the weak memory, especially for words while speaking, the difficulty in concentration and the general tendency towards imbecility which we recognise from the Barytas. But these elements do not suffice to give the true picture of this remedy. The keynotes are the withdrawal and sense of being closed in, the aversion to or even fear of communication, although inwardly we see the tendency to be very critical of others. read more [...]

    Baryta Muriatica Chloride of Barium Ba Cl2 2H2O   The essential features This remedy, though presenting many similarities in its gross symptomatology with Baryta carbonica, yet has features of its own. It has all the main symptoms of Baryta carbonica including the difficulty in concentration, the dulness of mind, the confusion, the indecision and the immaturity. The Baryta muriatica patient is confused in her mind. She does not answer properly, as if she were thinking of something else at the moment. She has great difficulty in concentration while studying or reading, and difficulty in learning, comprehension, and memory. She is irresolute and indecisive, and very similar to Baryta carbonica in her immaturity. There is anxiety about the future, and a rapid progression to a state of idiocy. The primary action of Baryta muriatica, which presents us with the unique picture of this remedy and on which I shall now focus, is concentrated on three particular areas: the nervous system, the vascular system and the glands.   The effect on the central and peripheral nervous system This is primarily a "convulsive remedy" in the broadest sense read more [...]

  Baryta Iodata Baric iodide Ba I2 Trituration   The essential features The main action of Baryta iodata is to retard development and to infiltrate, enlarge and indurate glands and organ tissues. You will need this remedy mostly with children, particularly in cases of cachetic, malnourished children. Baryta iodata suits a child who does not grow as he should, whose lymphatic glands are very swollen and hard, who catches cold easily and who exhibits opacity of the cornea. The opacity which is apparent in the eye parallels the induration and infiltration of internal organs and glands. There are other remedies that feature opacity of the cornea and swollen cervical glands, such as Cadm., Calc-c., Arg-n., etc. But in order to prescribe this remedy you need to observe that the child is not developing properly and that its growth is stunted. Here we must differentiate with Baryta carbonica as far as the stunted growth or dwarfishness is concerned. In Baryta iodata we do not see dwarfishness as such but rather a general cachexia and emaciation. When we talk about the characteristics of a remedy it means that these characteristics are the first thing read more [...]

Baryta Carbonica Carbonas baryta "Carbonate of Barium Ba CO3, with which are included symptoms of Baryta acetica - Barium acetate Ba(C2H3O2)2. (I follow Hering and Hahnemann in combining the two, as I agree with Hering that "there is hardly any difference between the two, and certainly none in the symptoms cured.") Solution of acetate; trituration of carbonate." Clarke. English: Carbonate of Barytes; Carbonate of Baryta French: Baryte carbonatée; sous-carbonate de baryte German: Baryt; Schwererde Mode of preparation: Crystallized chloride of Barium, well pulverized, is to be boiled for two minutes with six parts of alcohol, in order to free it from the chloride of strontium, which might be mixed with it; the powder is then to be dissolved in six parts of boiling distilled water and precipitated by carbonate of ammonia; the precipitate is to be repeatedly washed with distilled water and then dried. The attenuations are to be first prepared by three triturations, like those of the minerals.   The essential features Like all polychrests, Baryta carbonica is used in all age groups and in a wide span of disorders. The old homeopaths' observation of Baryta read more [...]

  Baptisia Tinctoria   Wild Indigo N.O. Leguminosae Tincture of fresh root and its bark.   The essential features Baptisia has come down to us as a remedy for typhus, although it has been a subject for controversy over the years. Some practitioners, including Kent, have praised Baptisia highly in this condition, where others stated flatly that it was useless for the real typhus. Kent also states in his materia medica that this is an acute remedy for acute conditions only. I do not agree with either statement. In my experience Baptisia has worked well when prescribed on proper indications, whether   for acute or chronic conditions. Since the idea of typhus has overwhelmed our literature on Baptisia, and has given the impression that this remedy should be thought of only in typhoid states, I will begin by indicating the range of diseases or conditions in which this remedy is needed: Influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, encephalitis, cholocystitis, food poisoning, enteritis, enterocolitis, peritonitis, tuberculous enteritis, psychotic conditions, anxiety neurosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, alzheimer's disease and asthmatic conditions. These read more [...]